Galilei, Galileo, Discourse concerning the natation of bodies, 1663

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As to that finally which preſents it ſelf in the fourth place, namely,

that
the Ancients have been heretofore confuted by Ariſtotle, who
denying
Poſitive and Abſolute Levity, and truely eſteeming all
dies
to be grave, ſaid, that that which moved upward was driven by
the
circumambient Air, and therefore that alſo the Doctrine of
Archimedes, as an adherent to ſuch an Opinion was
victed
and confuted: I anſwer firſt, that Signor Buonamico in my
judgement
hath impoſed upon Archimedes, and deduced from his
words
more than ever he intended by them, or may from his
ſitions
be collected, in regard that Archimedes neither denies, nor
mitteth
Poſitive Levity, nor doth he ſo much as mention it: ſo that
much
leſs ought Buonamico to inferre, that he hath denyed that it
might
be the Cauſe and Principle of the Aſcenſion of Fire, and other
Light
Bodies: having but only demonſtrated, that Solid Bodies

more
grave than Water deſcend in it, according to the exceſs of their
Gravity
above the Gravity of that, he demonſtrates likewiſe, how the

leſs
grave aſcend in the ſame Water, accordng to its exceſs of
ty
, above the Gravity of them.
So that the moſt that can be
ed
from the Dem onſtration of Archimedes is, that like as the exceſs
of
the Gravity of the Moveable above the Gravity of the Water, is
the
Cauſe that it deſcends therein, ſo the exceſs of the Gravity of
the
water above that of the Moveable, is a ſufficient Cauſe why it
cends
not, but rather betakes it ſelf to ſwim: not enquiring
ther
of moving upwards there is, or is not any other Cauſe contrary
to
Gravity: nor doth Archimedes diſcourſe leſs properly than if one
ſhould
ſay: If the South Winde ſhall aſſault the Barke with greater
Impetus than is the violence with which the Streame of the River
ries
it towards the South, the motion of it ſhall be towards the North:
but
if the Impetus of the Water ſhall overcome that of the Winde, its
motion
ſhall be towards the South.
The diſcourſe is excellent and
would
be unworthily contradicted by ſuch as ſhould oppoſe it, ſaying:
Thou
miſ-alledgeſt as Cauſe of the motion of the Bark towards the
South
, the Impetus of the Stream of the Water above that of the
South
Winde; miſ-alledgeſt I ſay, for it is the Force of the North
Winde
oppoſite to the South, that is able to drive the Bark towards
the
South.
Such an Objection would be ſuperfluous, becauſe he which
alledgeth
for Cauſe of the Motion the ſtream of the Water, denies not

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